Flasher mechanism



March 17, 1959 's. BARKER FLASHER MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.6, 1958 5m! aa $5M.

' 1 BY flwmih only! fim March 17, 1959 s. BARKER 2,878,424

FLASHER macmmsm Filed Feb. 6, 195a 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Stacey mok;

March 17, 1959 s. BARKER 2,873,424-

FLASI-IER MECHANISM Filed Feb. 6; 195a I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 Stacey II VV E NIOR.

United States Patent l This invention relates to devices for controllingelectric lights and particularly to a device for producing a lightingelfect by energizing and deenergizing electric lights of any type.

There are a great many devices for controlling electric lights whenthey. are used as parts of displays, billboards, water fountains andothers. These devices form a definite pattern with a prearrangedcontinuity or repeat cycle for the lights.

This invention differs entirely from this concept to the extent that tothe casual or studied observer, no pattern or repeat cycle can beobserved. The invention is embodied in the provision of an almostcompletely random lighting cycle and especially when used with lights ofdifferent colors and projected on an object. For example, the object maybe an evergreen tree used as a display during a holiday season. When soused, the effects are rapturous and enthralling, enticing a view forlong periods of time because of the many diiferent The object of thisinvention, therefore, is to provide anew decor-ative lighting system fordisplays, advertising, fountains and various other purposes and uses.

The invention is embodied in a mechanism which successfully energizes,for a period of time, lights of dif ferent colors or shades. Themechanism preferably has a small electric motor which drives a group ofindependently rotatable gears through a jack shaft that supports anumber of pinions. pairs of engaged gears differ from each other, andeach pair of gears is arranged to operate one or more, preferably twoswitches, turning it on and off to energize and deenergize two lights.

Although it may be said that there is actually a repeat cycle in thisdevice, the repetition takes place after so The gearing ratios of the along a period of time that in comparison to other equipment for cyclinglights, this invention appears to have a complete random operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a structurallysimple, portable and easily installed and removed unit by which tocontrol the energization of a plurality of lights for any purposecompatible with the device.

Other features and advantages and objects of this invention will appearfrom the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings,wherein: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an evergreen tree with which a displaylighting system in accordance with the invention is connected, theevergreen tree schematically representing any object or portion thereofthat is to be displayed for any purpose.

Figure 2 is a top view of the unit in Figure 1 with the cover opened toexpose parts of the interior of the unit.

I CC 2,878,424

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of tree 10 whichschematically represents any object or' portion thereof, for example, asurface of an object, on which the rays from the lights of displayequipment 12 are to be applied. The display equipment 12 includes a treeholder 14 consisting of an upwardly opening tube with fasteners 16 tohold the trunk 17 of the tree 10 fastened therein. Base 18 is attachedto the lower end of the tree holder and has twelve spokes 20 extendingradially therefrom and separably connected thereto, as

by bolt and nut assemblies 21. The spokes are provided with a channel ortrack so that the lights 22 at their outer ends can be varied indistance from tree 10.

Light 22 is constructed of a lamp housing 24 in which there is anelectric light bulb or some other source of illumination. It ispreferred that the lamps in the group of lamps be made of differentcolors or have different color lens or in some other way cast a coloredlight onto the tree 10.

The lamp housing 24 is supported on pivots 28 that are carried at theupper ends of the sides of U-shaped mounting bracket 30. This bracket isrotatably adjustable about its support spindle 32, the latter heldspaced slightly above the top surface of its spoke 20 by spacer 34. Byvirtue of this construction the lamp housing 22 can be adjusted about ahorizontal axis (pivot pins 28) or about a generally vertical axis(spindle 32) so that the beam of light will be passed in the directionthat is desired by the user.

The unit 40 is the control for the twelve electric lights 22. Althoughtwelve lights are illustrated and are described as one embodiment of theinvention, it is to be The case 42 has a bottom 46, side walls 48 to oneof.

which hinges 45 are secured, and a false bottom 50. This false bottom 50supports the mechanism .by which the lights 22 are switched. Thismechanism consists of a small electric motor 52 that prefer-ably has agear reducer built on one of its ends through which drive sprocket 56 ispowered. Chain 58 is engaged with the drive sprocket and with thesprocket 60 on jack shaft 62. Six pinions 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 and 68 arefixed to jack shaft 62, as by setscrews and collars. 60 is also fixed tothe jack shaft 62, all of the pinions will be rotated in response toactuation of electric motor 52. Bearings 69 and 70 at the upper ends ofbearing supports 71, hold the jack shaft supported above the falsebottom 50 in case 42. Bearing supports 71 are each secured to this falsebottom and rise upwardly therefrom. Each pinion (Figure 2) has aslightly different number of teeth and a slightly different diameter.

The six pinions are engaged with six gears 73, 74, 75,

76, 77 and 78, each of which is independently mounted. The teeth ofgears 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78 are the same in number andsince they areenmeshed with pinions that Patented Mar. .17, 1959 Since the sprocketeach has a different number of teeth, the speed of rotation of the gearswill differ. Each of the six gears is mounted on its spindle, therebeing spindles or shafts 79, 80, 81, 82, 83 and 84, and these aremounted for rotation in bearings at the upper ends of support brackets85 (Figure 3). The support brackets are secured 'to the false bottom 50and rise upwardly therefrom. Their bearings are at their upper ends.

Each gear, for example, typical gear 74 of Figure 3, has a cam 87 cut inone of its faces and in the form of a groove. The cam is generallycircular with two lobes 88 and 89 or deviations from the circle whichcorrespond to lobes. Two cam followers 90 and 91 are held captive in cam87 and are attached to switch holders 92 and 93. Each switch holderconsists of a plate mounted on its pivot pin 94 and 95 at its lower endand provided with spring clips 96 and 97 at its upper end. Mercuryswitches 98 and 99 are held by the spring clips and move with the switchholders 92 and 93 as they are oscillated in response to rotation of gear74 and more particularly, in response to movement of the cam followers90 and 91 in the cam groove 87. The pivot pins 94 and 95 for the switchholders 92 and 93 are mounted on the ends of support arm 190 that iscarried by the bearing support or bracket 85.

Each mercury switch is wired with an electrical outlet, for exampleoutlets 102 and 104 of Figure 3 are Wired with mercury switches 98 and99 so that the mercury switches control the outlets. Plugs 106 and 108are plugged into the outlet and wired with individual lights 22. Byvirtue of this construction the individual lights can be plugged in andseparated very easily. It is preferred that one of the walls 48 of thecase '42 have a number of openings 110 through which the wires from thelight 22 may pass.

Reference is now made to the wiring diagram of Figure 9. As shown inthis figure current from a-source ofclectrical potential is applied tofuses 114 and 116 in a fuse block that is carried by the case 42. Motor52 has an electric wire and plug that is adapted to be fitted into themotor outlet 120, and the motor outlet is controlled by motor switch122, each of these being carried by false bottom 50 of case 42. Motoroutlet 120 and its switch 122 are connected across the line and are incircuit with the fuses 114 and 116. Service outlets 124 and 126 that areconnected in parallel, are provided in the. case 42 and are wired inseries with the fuses 114 and 116. Each of the mercury switches isconnected in series with its light outlet or socket. For example seeFigure 9 showing mercury switches 98 and 99 serially connected withtheir outlets 102 and 104. However, the groups of mercury switches andtheir outlets are connected in parallel with main light switch 130 inone side of the line so that the entire lighting circuit can beenergized and deenergized.

In practical use, the desired display is set up, one possible displayshown in Figure 1. Then when the switches are closed, the motor 52becomes energized and rotates the jack shaft through the gear reducerand chain drive (Figure 3). Thejack shaft supported pinions rotate thegears with which they are enmeshed but due to the different gear ratiosfor each pair of gears, the gears will be rotated at different speeds.Accordingly, the mercury switches of each pairare opened and closed atdifferent times and these directly control the energiza tion of theirindividual lights. The lights are operated at .seemingly erraticintervals when compared to each other and this creates an effect whichdoes not appear to have any continuity. On the contrary the lightingeffect appears to be completely random with some lights being energizedwith others. In other words, for a while a red light may be energizedwith a green light, but after a while when this red light is againenergized, it will he onat the same time that a yellow light is on.

Changes in .size, shape and :arrangement of details a motor, a jackshaft, 21 case within which said jack shaft is mounted for rotation, aplurality of pinions on said jack shaft, a plurality of independentlyrotating gears enmeshed with said pinions, the gear ratios of the pairsof pinions and gears differing so that said gears rotate at differentspeeds, a plurality of switches, switch holders, means mounting saidswitch holders for oscillation in said case, means drivingly connectingsaid gears and said switch holders to oscillate said switch holders inresponse to rotation of said gears, and means including electric wiresextending from said switches to the lights for energizing the lights.

2. In a display which has a plurality of electric lights, controlequipment for energizing the lights in a seemingly completely randomfashion, said equipment comprising a motor, a jack shaft, a case withinwhich said jack.

shaft is mounted for rotation, a plurality of pinions on said jackshaft, a plurality of independently rotating gears enmeshed with saidpinions, the gear ratios of the pairs of pinions and gears differing sothat said gears .rotate at different speeds, a plurality of switches,switch holders, means mounting said switch holders for oscillation insaid case, means drivingly connecting said gears and said switch holdersto oscillate said switch holders in response to rotation of said gears,and means including electric wires extending from said switches to thelights for energizing the lights, said energizing means including anelectrical outlet carried by said case for each light, said wiresincluding portions which extend from said switches to said electricoutlets, plugs, other portions of said electric wires extending fromsaid 'plugs which are adapted to be separably connected with saidoutlets and connected with said lights.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said electric lights include lighthousings, means mounting said light housings for adjustment aboutintersecting axes so that the beam of light from said lights may bedirected to selected areas.

4. In a display which has a plurality of electric lights, controlequipment for energizing the lights in a seemingly completely randomfashion, said equipment comprising a motor, a jack shaft, a case withinwhich said jack shaft is mounted for rotation, a plurality of pinions onsaid jack shaft, a plurality of independently rotating gears enmeshedwith said pinions, the gear ratios of the pairs of pinions and gearsdiffering so that said gears rotate at different speeds, a plurality ofswitches, switch holders, means mounting said switch holders foroscillation in said case, means drivingly connecting said gears and saidswitch holders to oscillate said switch holders in response to rotationof said gears, and means including electric wires extending from saidswitches to the lights for energizing the lights, said energizing meansincluding an electrical outlet carried by said case for each light, saidwires including portions which extend from said switches to saidelectric outlets, plugs, other portions of said electric wires extendingfrom said plugs which are adapted to be separably connected with saidoutlets and connected with said lights, said case having a false bottomto which said outlets are secured, a main switchfor said lights andcarried by said case, and electricconductors extending from said mainswitch and to a source of potential and to said switches that arecarried by said switch holders.

5. In an apparatus to control a group of electriclights, the combinationof a motor, a group of gears, means mounting *said gears for rotationindependently of each other, means drivingly connecting said motor togears for rotating said gears at speeds which are diiferent from eachother whereby one gear operates at a speed different from the adjacentgears, switch holders, switches carried by said switch holders, meansoperatively connecting said switches of said switch holders to thelights that are to be controlled, means drivingly connecting said switchholders to said gears for oscillating said switch holders in response torotation of said gears.

6. In a display that has a plurality of electric lights, means forenergizing said electric lights in a seemingly random sequence, saidmeans including a plurality of mechanical members, means for rotatingsaid mechanical members at speeds that difier between mechanicalmembers, a plurality of brackets, means on said bracket supporting saidmechanical members for rotation, a plurality of switches adapted tocontrol the electric lights, a switch holder for each switch, meansmounting said switch holders for oscillation on said bracket, and meansdrivingly connecting said switch holders to said members.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said members consist of gears,said means drivingly connecting said means for rotating said membersincluding a motor, a jack shaft, pinions on said jack shafts andenmeshed with said gears.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS475,538 Cowgill May 24, 1892 1,110,872 Borschneck Sept. 15, 19141,479,420 Nenno Jan. 1, 1924 1,483,710 Black Feb. 12, 1924 2,032,326Leland Feb. 25. 1936

